From Renaissance times wealthy merchants and prominent people in society have collected art in their homes. In Finland, the oldest art museum, the Cygnaeus Gallery, was opened in 1882. The current collection grew out of the works of art acquired by Professor Fredrik Cygnaeus. He bequeathed his collection to the people of Finland. Often, the collectors wanted to open their homes as museums to provide everyone a chance to enjoy the works as much as they themselves did.

Sinebrychoff Art Museum, The Kirpilä Art Collection , Villa Gyllenberg, Amos Anderson, Didrichsen museum and The Cygneaus Gallery.